By CLINT CHAN TACK Friday, June 27 2008

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Minister Paula Gopee Scoon yesterday announced China will help Government bolster security at local ports, Prime Minister Patrick Manning will pay a state visit to China early next year and TT will establish an embassy in that country.

Addressing the post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Gopee Scoon said one of the four agreements signed between the governments of both countries on Wednesday was for the provision of a $60 million linear accelerator X-ray scanning and radiation detection system to the Port Authority of TT (PATT).

While she could not give a time frame for the implementation of this system since Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert is PATT line minister, Gopee Scoon said this system “enables us to inspect and evaluate contents of trucks, containers, cargo and passenger vehicles for the detection of explosive devices, weapons, narcotics and other contraband.”

She said apart from increasing TT’s maritime security, the system will help to ensure that this country “adheres to the stringent maritime codes that accompany markets that are key to our trade aspirations.”

While TT’s asphalt exports to China have increased in recent years, especially due to the hosting of this year’s Olympic Games in Beijing, Gopee Scoon said there were no talks between the TT and Chinese delegations about trade in any single commodity. Explaining that the agreement to form a joint committee for trade, economic and technical cooperation expanded on a 1999 agreement by the former UNC regime with China, Gopee Scoon said the committee will meet every two years, alternating between TT and China to explore initiatives in all of these areas. The minister said none of the agreements signed on Wednesday were based on TT’s continuing support for the One China policy which advocates the unification of China and Taiwan.